GCSE contingency day 15 June

holidaythoughts · 2023-05-31T14:34:24+00:00

Just wondering if anyone knows how far in advance we'd hear if GCSE students do need to resit an exam on 15th June. Contemplating booking a last minute holiday and wondering whether I can risk being abroad on 15th or not...for example was thinking of booking it on the 9th to leave on 10th and stay for a week. Anyone with any experience/knowledge I'd be very grateful to hear whether it would be too stupid (suspect it would be!)

mummymeister · 31/05/2023 15:37

Dont risk it! you have no idea what might happen in terms of papers spoilt, not sent, school emergency etc etc. just too much stress at a time when there is enough of it.

ChiefAdjusterOfRubensShorts · 31/05/2023 15:40

DS last exam is the 16th June, we go away the 17th.

The thought had never even crossed my mind about there being any hiccups!

Now I’m flapping!

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

DaisyChain16 · 31/05/2023 15:44

No one can answer this it's just a risk you take I guess.
I wouldn't be booking anything until last exam is done.

Bramshott · 31/05/2023 15:47

How early do your DC finish? I thought most people finished 16 June with some exams going into the following week with the contingency day being 28 June?

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:48

Last contingency day is 28 June, first one 8 june, and one on 15 June. But they talk about it being due to significant local or national disruption... 🤔

titchy · 31/05/2023 15:50

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

Well yes - given that it's still three weeks before schools normally finish for the summer there's time for a cheaper holiday.

And it is a leaving exam for many. Where it's not GCSE results are used to determine the next stages of education. Don't under estimate their importance!

Original poster

holidaythoughts · 31/05/2023 15:55

My son finishes on 7th June so I thought we'd hopefully know shortly afterwards if he will need to be there on 15th.
And the reason is indeed it's much cheaper to go earlier in june than later

OP posts:

Comefromaway · 31/05/2023 15:57

The official school leaving date for Year 11 is 30th June. No-one should be booking holidays until after the contingency date. God forbid there is another major incident such as Grenfell or Manchester Arena but the contingency dates are to deal with things like that.

Guessthevoice · 31/05/2023 15:58

Are you in England? Year 11? The last maths exam isn't until 14th June? And science on 16th?

Simonjt · 31/05/2023 15:59

holidaythoughts · 31/05/2023 15:55

My son finishes on 7th June so I thought we'd hopefully know shortly afterwards if he will need to be there on 15th.
And the reason is indeed it's much cheaper to go earlier in june than later

Is he not sitting science, maths or English language? They all have papers after 7th June.

x2boys · 31/05/2023 16:05

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

What is it if ts not a leaving school.exam?
Or is this mumsnet land were post 16 education doesn't appear to.exist outside of Alevels and sixth forms attached to s chools🙄 I must have imagined my 16 year olds school leavers mass last week
and his interview for the extremely large college he's got a place at.

nahwhale · 31/05/2023 16:05

If you have been told the contingency date it is for a reason. What are you going to do if your child is on holiday and they have to rush back and take a maths GCSE?

nahwhale · 31/05/2023 16:07

saoirse31 · 31/05/2023 15:44

That seems absolutely insane. Are you seriously saying everyone who's done GCSE should not go on holidays or whatever till after 15th June? When you think it's not even a leaving school exam for most students? And surely the risk of exam papers going missing, etc must be vanishingly small?

What do you mean it's not a leaving school exam? That's ridiculous. 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at a good grade. That is what is needed to get most jobs or courses.

So no they shouldn't be going away they need to be available for the date provided. They don't just do these things for a laugh.

Zingy123 · 31/05/2023 16:08

No way would I risk it. You never know what might happen.

toomuchlaundry · 31/05/2023 16:10

DS is going on holiday with his mates after A-levels. They were looking at going on 28th, but I made them rebook for 29th

MadamWhiteleigh · 31/05/2023 16:12

I wouldn’t be going anywhere until it’s all completely over, including contingency days, leavers balls and all the rest of it.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 31/05/2023 16:18

My daughter finishes her last exam on the 16th, but then there are optional bridging activities on after the exams in the sixth form block. It's to get them used to life in sixth form and plug any gaps in knowledge so they're ready to start their courses in September. There's also the prom on 5th July that she wants to go to.

I was also hoping for a cheaper June holiday but she wanted to do the activities and prom so just going a bit earlier in July than normal.

Bramshott · 31/05/2023 16:21

In answer to your specific question OP - it's probably pretty unlikely that the contingency date will be used, so as long as you'd be happy to risk a last minute return in the unlikely chance that this year it IS, you should go for it!

Do get your DC to double check their exam dates though because 7 June seems very early!

Shadowworry · 31/05/2023 16:24

Don’t do it

Guessthevoice · 31/05/2023 16:24

Bramshott · 31/05/2023 16:21

In answer to your specific question OP - it's probably pretty unlikely that the contingency date will be used, so as long as you'd be happy to risk a last minute return in the unlikely chance that this year it IS, you should go for it!

Do get your DC to double check their exam dates though because 7 June seems very early!

I think OP must be referring to iGCSE not GCSE

Moredarkchocolateplease · 31/05/2023 16:27

I'm an exams officer.

IGCSEs tend to follow the same dates as the GCSEs do for maths science and English. I administer IGCSEs in my school.

I wouldn't be booking and taking my children away until all exams have been completed fully.

Guessthevoice · 31/05/2023 16:29

Moredarkchocolateplease · 31/05/2023 16:27

I'm an exams officer.

IGCSEs tend to follow the same dates as the GCSEs do for maths science and English. I administer IGCSEs in my school.

I wouldn't be booking and taking my children away until all exams have been completed fully.

There's fewer exams for iGCSE though which is why I assume they finish earlier, so for maths GCSE it's three exam papers, for maths iGCSE it's only two

NillyNoMates · 31/05/2023 16:32

I think you need to double check the date of his exams.

Original poster

holidaythoughts · 31/05/2023 16:41

I have checked and double checked his exam dates so that's not an issue. He absolutely finishes on 7th June.
I can't think that once they're over he will have to do it again, unless it comes out that somehow one of the papers he sat had been leaked and doing the rounds and a large group of people cheated or something like that. But I'm presuming that would have come out by then. I'm also presuming there would be some notice so they can freshen up on the subject they have to redo. But I simply don't know. It seems like a risk but a very minor one....

OP posts: